Apparatus for processing strips of photographic material or the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for treating strips of photographic material with a developing solution which reacts with oxygen has upper and lower chambers defining a channel for lengthwise transport of strips and orifices which discharge streams of developing solution against the respective sides of strips. The chambers further have passages which receive developing solution from a pump and are bounded by upper surfaces which slope upwardly in the direction of liquid flow toward the respective orifices. Such orifices receive liquid upon complete filling of the respective passages so that the passages are free of air bubbles when the apparatus is in use.

United States Patent Frick et al.

[451 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIPS OF PHOTOGRAPHICMATERIAL OR THE LIKE [72] Inventors: Hans-Dieter Frick; Erwin Geyken;Peter Dawidowitsch; Helmut Schausberger, all of Munich, Germany [73]Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Aktiengesellschatt,

Leverkusen, Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 97,273

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 12, 1969 Germany ..P 19 62421.6

[52] US. Cl. ..95/89 R [51] Int. Cl. ..-...G03d 3/02 [58] Field ofSearch ..95/89 R, 89 A, 94 R [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS3,405,626 10/1968 Fleisher et a1 ..95/94 R 3,192,846 7/1965 Wright..95/89 R X 3,220,302 11/1965 Cuthbert et al. ..95/89 R X 3,344,72910/1967 Kitrosser ..95/89 R Primary Examiner-Samuel S. MatthewsAssistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun AttorneyMichael S. Striker [5 7]ABSTRACT Apparatus for treating strips of photographic material with adeveloping solution which reacts with oxygen has upper and lowerchambers defining a channel for lengthwise transport of strips andorifices which discharge streams of developing solution against therespective sides of strips. The chambers further have passages whichreceive developing solution from a pump and are bounded by uppersurfaces which slope upwardly in the direction of liquid flow toward therespective orifices. Such orifices receive liquid upon complete fillingof the respective passages so that the passages are free of air bubbleswhen the apparatus is tn use.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure e\ iiv PATENTEDSEP26 m2 INVENTOR HANS-DIETERFRICK ERWIN GEYKEN y PETER HELMUT DAWRDOWITSCH SCHAUSBERGER fi'dau at!APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING STRIPS OF PI-IOTOGRAPI-IIC MATERIAL OR THE LIKECROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The apparatus which is disclosedin the present application constitutes an improvement over and a furtherdevelopment of apparatus disclosed in the copending application Ser. No.737,561 filed June 17, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,131, by Hans-DieterFrick et al. and assigned to the same assignee.

Certain features which are claimed in the present application aredisclosed in our copending application Ser. No. 97,272, filed of evendate herewith, entitled Apparatus For Processing Photographic MaterialOr The Like and having the same filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to apparatusfor wet treatment of strips of photographic material or the like. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus whereinstrips of photographic material are treated with liquids which areadversely affected by oxygen.

It is well known that developing solutions for exposed photographic filmundergo rapid oxidation on exposure to air and that oxidation reducestheir effectiveness. Thus, it is of utmost importance for an economicaloperation to prevent oxidation or at least to slowdown the oxidation ofdeveloping solution. Heretofore known developing apparatus are notentirely satisfactory because the solution which flows off the film ispermitted to descend directly into the main supply by gravity withresulting splashing and introduction of large quantities of air into themain body of solution. On the other hand, the apparatus wherein thedeveloping solution is not circulated at all or isagitated only belowthe surface are much less efficient than those wherein the entiresolution is in motion during treatment of photographic material. I

Another drawback of presently known developing apparatus for strips ofphotographic film is that they are likely to entrap bubbles of airduring introduction of developing solution. Thus, when a developingapparatus comprises an upper liquid discharging chamber which serves tosupply one or more liquid streams for treatment of the upper side of atravelling strip and a lower chamber which discharges liquid for thetreatment of the underside of such strip, air is likely to be entrappedin the chambers to come into intimate contact with circulating solutionand to bring about premature oxidation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide animproved apparatus for treatment of strips of photographic material witha liquid which reacts with oxygen and which, therefore, should be keptout of or in minimal contact with atmospheric air.

Another object of the invention is to provide developing or analogousprocessing apparatus for photographic film with novel means forexpelling air from those portions which serve to confine the developingsolution during circulation of such solution between the main supply andthe path along which the film or films are moved through the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein alltraces of air or other gases can be expelled from the path forcirculating liquid when the apparatus receives a fresh supply of liquidas well as when the apparatus is started.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the apparatus withnovel means for automatically expe'lling air from the path forcirculating developing solution or another processing liquid.

The apparatus of the present invention is utilized for wet treatment ofstripsof photographic material, particularly for treatment of films in adeveloping solution, and comprises spaced first and second pairs ofpreferably roller-shaped transporting members defining a substantiallyhorizontal path for lengthwise transport of strips, and upper and lowerliquid discharging chambers disposed in the space between the two pairsof transporting members and respectively located above and below thepath for the strips. Each of the chambers has at least one preferablywide but narrow liquid-admitting inlet and'preferably slit-shaped outletorifice which discharges one or more'liquid streams against therespective side of the strip between the two pairs of transportingmembers. The chambers are further provided with preferably narrow butwide passages along which the liquid flows from the respective inletstoward the respective outlets, and internal surfaces flanking thepassages from above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flowtoward the respective outlets. The outlets are positioned in such a waythat they receive liquid from the inlets only in response to completefilling of the respective passages with liquid. This insures that thepassages are totally free of air before the liquid reaches therespective outlets.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmode of operation, together with additional features and advantagesthereof, will be best understoop upon perusal of the following detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawing.

I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a schematicfragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of an apparatus whichembodies the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawing illustrates aportion of an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographicmaterial, particularly for treatment of exposed roll film or the likewith a developing solution. The apparatus comprises a vessel or tank 105which removably supports a frame including two vertical platens 107(only one shown). These platens support the shafts of four transportingrollers 1 to 4. The front pair of rollers 3,4 is spaced from the rearpair of rollers 1, 2 as considered in the direction of strip transport(arrow 108), and these rollers define a preferably horizontal path forlengthwise transport of successive strips through an elongated channel102 between an upper liquid discharging chamber 5 and a lower liquiddischarging chamber 6. The chambers 5, 6 can form a rigid onepiece unitand are secured to the platens 107 by screws 109 or analogous fasteners.The vessel 105 contains a supply of processing liquid which normallyfills the vessel to the level 12. A pump or a like liquid pressurizingand circulating device (not shown) is employed to draw liquid from thesupply in the vessel 105 and to pump pressurized liquid into thechambers 5, 6. The manner in which the liquid can be circulated in thevessel 105 and chambers 5, 6 is disclosed in our aforementionedcopending application of even date. Another suitable liquid pressurizingsystem is disclosed in German Pat. No. 1,293,586. The liquid whichissues from the chambers 5, 6 and treats the strip in the channel 102flows back into the vessel 105. When the pump is idle, the chambers 5, 6are empty and the liquid in the vessel 105 rises to the level 11.

The chambers 5, 6 preferably consist of one or more suitably deformedsheets of stainless steel or other material which can resist thecorrosive action of processing liquid. These chambers respectivelycomprise pairs of lateral walls or end walls 7, 15 (only one shown)'which can be separably secured to the steel portions by screws or thelike and preferably consist of synthetic plastic material. The walls 7,l5 flank the channel 102 which is open at both ends, namely, in theregion of the rollers 1, 2 and in the region of the rollers 3, 4. Thewidth of the channel 102 is preferably constant. The lower walls 7 areprovided with elongated slitshaped inlet openings 7a having roundedcomer portions and a height which is but a small fraction of theirwidth. The upper walls are provided with similar inlet openings 15a. Theopenings 7a, 15a admit processing liquid which is being drawn from thesupply in the vessel 105, and such liquid thereupon flows into and fillssubstantially horizontal narrow passages 50, 6a in the respectivechambers. The chambers 5, 6 are further provided with narrow slit-shapedoutlet openings or orifices 5b, 6c which discharge streams of processingliquid against. the respective sides of the strip advancing along thepath 100. The orifices 5b, 6c are preferably designed in such a way thatthey discharge streams of liquid at an angle of about 30+ with referenceto the plane of the path 100 and counter to the direction (arrow 108) ofstrip travel in the channel 102. u

The channel 102 is flanked from below by the top wall 14 of the lowerchamber 6; this wall 14 overlies a block-shaped insert 8 which isinstalled in the chamber 6 above the inlets 7a. The lower surface 8a ofthe insert 8 slopes upwardly in a direction toward the orifice 60. Thisinsures that the liquid which is admitted into the chamber 6 by way ofthe inlets 7a must completely fill the passage 60 before it can reachthe orifice 60 so that the passage 6a is totally free of air. Thesurface 8a of the insert 8 is a smooth, uninterrupted plane surface andserves as an upper boundary for the passages 6a. The latter dischargesliquid into a substantially vertical passage 6b which is close to thelower front roller 4 and admits liquid into the Orifice 6c. The surfacesbounding the orifice 6c are preferably rounded. The channel 102 has atrough-shaped portion whose bottom part receives liquid from the orifice6c.

The upper part of the passage 5a in the upper chamber 5 is bounded by aninternal surface 115 which slopes upwardly in the direction of liquidflow toward the orifice 5b. The upper side of the channel 102 is flankedby a bottom wall 10 of the upper chamber 5; this bottom wall surrounds aportion of a block-shaped insert 9 which is secured to the sheet metalpart of the chamber 5 by screws or analogous fasteners and has ahorizontal top surface bounding the passage 5a from below. The bottomwall 10 has a vertical extension 10a which extends close to the internalsurface 115 and defines therewith a narrow clearance or gap 13 for theflow of liquid from the passage 5a into a vertical passage So whichextends downwardly from the gap 13 and supplies liquid to the orifice5b. The width of the passage 50 is a multiple of the width of theorifice 5b or 6c or gap 13; as a rule, the width of the passage 5c ismore than five times the width of the orifices 5b, 6c and gap 13. Thegap 13 communicates with the uppermost part of the passage 5a so thatthe passage 5c begins to receive liquid only upon complete filling ofthe passage 54; this insures that the passage 5a is completely free ofair when the orifice 5b receives liquid. The width of the gap 13preferably equals or approximates the width of the orifice 5b.

The lower chamber 6 is provided with forwardly and rearwardly projectingextensions 6f, 6g which extend close to the peripheral surfaces of thelower transporting rollers 4, 2. The upper chamber 5 has similarextensions 5d, 5e which are shorter than the extensions 6f and 63. Theextensions 5d, 52 are located opposite roof-shaped portions 6d, 6e ofthe lower extensions 6f, 6g to form therewith constrictions at the openends of the channel 102 which slow down the outflow of liquid from thechannel. The lower front extension 6f constitutes a guide or ramp alongwhich the leader of a fresh strip can slide toward the nip between therollers 3, 4. Thus, when the leader of a fresh strip is introduced intothe nip between the rollers l, 2 and enters the channel 102 between theextensions 5e, 6g, it automatically advances through the channel and canslide along the ramp or extension 6f to find its way into the nipbetween the rollers 3, 4. From then on, the strip is held away fromcontact with the extension 6f by a cushion of liquid which issues fromthe orifice 6c. The leader of a freshly inserted strip tends to benddownwardly under the weight of liquid which is discharged by the orifice5b of the chamber 5.

The apparatus further comprises pairs of vertically extending lateralpanels 16, 17 which respectively flank the extensions 6f and 6g anddefine therewith troughs which guide the liquid toward the peripheriesof the rollers 4, 2. The panels l6, l7 prevent direct gravitationaldescent of processing liquid into the supply of liquid in the vessel105; this could cause splashing and introduction of excessive quantitiesof oxygen into the main supply of liquid.

The operation:

When the apparatus is not in use, the aforementioned pump is idle andthe chambers 5, 6 are empty so that the liquid fills the vessel 105 tothe upper level 11. When the pump is started, the supply of liquid inthe vessel 105 descends to the level 12 which is still high enough toinsure that the lower portions of the rollers 2, 4 permanently dip intoliquid in the vessel 105. This feature is claimed in our aforementionedcopending application of even date. The pump is preferably a vane pumpwhich permits some return flow of liquid from the upper chamber 5 intothe vessel 105 when the pump is idle; therefore, the upper chamber isinvariably at least nearly empty when the apparatus is not in use. Itwill be noted that the upper level 11 of liquid in the vessel 105 islocated below the level of the path 100 and well below the lowermostpart of the internal space in the upper chamber 5 so that the latter canbe completely evacuated during a period of idleness of the pump.

As the pump is started, it delivers pressurized liquid to the inlets 7a,15a of the walls 7, 15 and such liquid rises in the passages 6a, 5a. Theliquid which is admitted into the passage 5a rises toward the gap 13,i.e., along the internal surface 115, and can overflow into the verticalpassage 50 only when the passage 5a is filled with liquid (i.e., totallyfree of air). The expelled air flows through the gap 13, passage 50,orifice 5b, channel 102 and into the atmosphere. Any bubbles of airwhich might adhere to the internal surface 115 are immediately entrainedby inflowing liquid to pass through the gap 13 and into the verticalpassage 50. The orifice 5b is substantially narrower than the passage5c; therefore, this orifice acts as a flow restrictor and insures thatthe passage 50 is completely filled with liquid shortly after the liquidbegins to overflow the wall portion 100. This insures complete expulsionof air from the passage 50. Thus, the liquid which circulates throughthe chamber 5 cannot come into appreciable contact with air so that theoxidation is negligible.

The width of the orifices 5b, 60 can be about 1 millimeter. The lowerorifice 60 receives liquid upon complete filling of the passages 6a, 6b,i.e., after complete evacuation of air from such passages. This reducesthe likelihood of rapid oxidation of liquid which is circulated throughthe lower chamber 6. The

orifices 5b, 6c discharge streams of processing liquid at a constantrate, and such liquid forms in the channel 102 two cushions which treatthe emulsion on the strip advancing along the path 100. The streamswhich issue from the orifices 5b, 6c are preferably mirror symmetricalwith reference to the plane of the path 100 and a substantial part ofeach of these streams flows rearwardly toward the rollers 1 and 2. Theupper cushion of liquid flows along the upper side of the strip andagainst the periphery of the upper roller 1. This rollerserves as abarrier to further rearward flow of liquid so that the liquid overflowsalong the marginal portions of the strip and descends onto theperipheral surface of the lower roller 2 to be returned into the mainsupply of liquid in the vessel 105 without appreciable splashing. Theextension 6g of the lower chamber 6 guides the lower cushion ofprocessing liquid directly toward the periphery of the lower rear roller2 along which the liquid forms a film and flows back into the vessel105. The front extension 6f guides the front part of the lower cushionagainst the periphery of the lower front roller 4 whereby such liquidforms a film or layer and flows along the periphery of the roller 4 toreturn into the main supply of liquid in the vessel 105. The rollers 2,4 serve as effective braking means to reduce the speed of returningliquid, and this also contributes to elimination of turbulence and to areduction of oxidation. The extensions 6f, 6g insure that the strip iscarried by a lower cushion of processing liquid substantially all theway from the roller 2 to the roller 4. Since the upper cushion alsoextends substantially all the way between the rollers l and 3, bothsides of the strip in the channel 102 are treated with the same degreeof intensity.

The upwardly sloping surface 8a of the insert 8 in the lower chamber 5is not absolutely needed for expulsion of air from the passage 6a whenthe upper surface of liquid in the vessel 105 (level 11) is above thelevel of the topmost part of the surface 8a while the pump is idle. Suchsituation is shown in the drawing. However, the surface plays animportant role in connection with rapid expulsion of bubbles of air orother gases which enter the circulating liquid when the apparatus is inuse. Such bubbles are caused to move along the upwardly inclined surface8a and to enter the channel 102 by way of the passage 6b and orifice 6c.Furthermore, the lower chamber 6 is completely empty when the mainsupply of liquid is introduced into or replaced in the vessel 105. Theascending bubbles of air are then expelled by travelling along theinclined surface 8a and into the channel 102.

The novel apparatus can be modified in a number of ways withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Thus, the vessel 105 cancontain a supply of fixer or other liquid. Furthermore, inclinedsurfaces corresponding to the surfaces 8a, can be employed with equaladvantage for expulsion of air from the conduits which convey liquidfrom the pump to the inlet openings 7a, 15a. Moreover, the entirechamber 5 and/or 6 may consist of metallic or synthetic plasticmaterial.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended 1. In an apparatus for wet treatment of stripsof photographic material, a combination comprising spaced first andsecond pairs of rotary transporting members defining a substantiallyhorizontal path for lengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lowerliquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs of transportingmembers and respectively located above and below said path, each of saidchambers having at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least oneoutlet for discharging a stream of liquid against the respective side ofa strip advancing along said path, said chambers further having passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said passages fromabove and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow toward therespective outlets, said outlets being located at the highest points ofthe corresponding upwardly sloping surfaces and communicating with saidpassages at said highest points so that said passages are completelyfilled with liquid before the liquid enters said outlets.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the internal surfaceofsaid lower chamber is an uninterrupted surface.

3. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytrasporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having substantiallyhorizontal first passages and substantially vertical second passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, said first passages communicating with therespective second passages in the regions of the highest points of therespective sloping surfaces.

4. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, the width of said first passage of said upperchamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said vertical passageextends downwardly from said gap and said gap communicates with thetopmost portion of the first mentioned passage of said upper chamber.

6. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, the width of said first passage of said upperchamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said gap being at most equalto the width of the outlet of said upper chamber.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein the outlet of said upperchamber and said gap constitute narrow slits.

8. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwide travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets the width of said first passage of said upperchamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said second passage being amultiple of the width of at least one of said outlets.

9. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagefrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, the width of the said first passage of saidupper chamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said second passage being amultiple of the width of said gap.

10. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographicmaterial, a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs ofrotary transporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of

1. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material,a combination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having passages alongwhich the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward the respectiveoutlets and internal surfaces flanking said passages from above andsloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow toward the respectiveoutlets, said outlets being located at the highest points of thecorresponding upwardly sloping surfaces and communicating with saidpassages at said highest points so that said passages are completelyfilled with liquid before the liquid enters said outlets.
 2. Acombination as defined in claim 1, wherein the internal surface of saidlower chamber is an uninterrupted surface.
 3. In an apparatus for wettreatment of strips of photographic material, a combination comprisingspaced first and second pairs of rotary trasporting members defining asubstantially horizontal path for lengthwise travel of strips; and upperand lower liquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs oftransporting members and respectively located above and below said path,each of said chambers having at least one liquid admitting inlet and atleast one outlet for discharging a stream of liquid against therespective side of a strip advancing along said path, said chambersfurther having substantially horizontal first passages and substantiallyvertical second passages along which the liquid flows from therespective inlets toward the respective outlets and internal surfacesflanking said first passages from above and sloping upwardly in thedirection of liquid flow toward the respective outlets, said firstpassages communicating with the respective second passages in theregions of the highest points of the respective sloping surfaces.
 4. Inan apparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material, acombination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said first passagesfrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, the width of said first passage of said upperchamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further coMprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4,wherein said vertical passage extends downwardly from said gap and saidgap communicates with the topmost portion of the first mentioned passageof said upper chamber.
 6. In an apparatus for wet treatment of strips ofphotographic material, a combination comprising spaced first and secondpairs of rotary transporting members defining a substantially horizontalpath for lengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquiddischarging chambers disposed between said pairs of transporting membersand respectively located above and below said path, each of saidchambers having at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least oneoutlet for discharging a stream of liquid against the respective side ofa strip advancing along said path, said chambers further having firstpassages along which the liquid flows from the respective inlets towardthe respective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said firstpassages from above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flowtoward the respective outlets, the width of said first passage of saidupper chamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said gap being at most equalto the width of the outlet of said upper chamber.
 7. A combination asdefined in claim 6, wherein the outlet of said upper chamber and saidgap constitute narrow slits.
 8. In an apparatus for wet treatment ofstrips of photographic material, a combination comprising spaced firstand second pairs of rotary transporting members defining a substantiallyhorizontal path for lengthwide travel of strips; and upper and lowerliquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs of transportingmembers and respectively located above and below said path, each of saidchambers having at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least oneoutlet for discharging a stream of liquid against the respective side ofa strip advancing along said path, said chambers further having firstpassages along which the liquid flows from the respective inlets towardthe respective outlets and internal surfaces flanking said firstpassages from above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flowtoward the respective outlets the width of said first passage of saidupper chamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said second passage being amultiple of the width of at least one of said outlets.
 9. In anapparatus for wet treatment of strips of photographic material, acombination comprising spaced first and second pairs of rotarytransporting members defining a substantially horizontal path forlengthwise travel of strips; and upper and lower liquid dischargingchambers disposed between said pairs of transporting members andrespectively located above and below said path, each of said chambershaving at least one liquid admitting inlet and at least one outlet fordischarging a stream of liquid against the respective side of a stripadvancing along said path, said chambers further having first passagesalong which the liquid flows from the respective inlets toward therespective outlets and intErnal surfaces flanking said first passagefrom above and sloping upwardly in the direction of liquid flow towardthe respective outlets, the width of the said first passage of saidupper chamber substantially exceeding the height thereof and said upperchamber further comprising a substantially vertical second passagecommunicating with the respective outlet and a partition disposedbetween the passages of said upper chamber and defining a narrowthrottling gap for overflow of liquid from said first into said secondpassage of said upper chamber, the width of said second passage being amultiple of the width of said gap.
 10. In an apparatus for wet treatmentof strips of photographic material, a combination comprising spacedfirst and second pairs of rotary transporting members defining asubstantially horizontal path for lengthwise travel of strips; and upperand lower liquid discharging chambers disposed between said pairs oftransporting members and respectively located above and below said path,each of said chambers having at least one liquid admitting inlet and atleast one outlet for discharging a stream of liquid against therespective side of a strip advancing along said path, said chambersfurther having first passages along which the liquid flows from therespective inlets toward the respective outlets and internal surfacesflanking said first passages from above and sloping upwardly in thedirection of liquid flow toward the respective outlets, the width ofsaid first passage of said upper chamber substantially exceeding theheight thereof and said upper chamber further comprising substantiallyvertical second passage communicating with the respective outlet and apartition disposed between the passages of said upper chamber anddefining a narrow throttling gap for overflow of liquid from said firstinto said second passage of said upper chamber, the width of said secondpassage exceeding five times the width of said outlets and said gap.